Development

The design and implementation of the BANGGA Papua program, in light of the geographic and infrastructure constraints facing Papua province, is instructive as an innovative example of inclusive social protection, not only for Indonesia, but also for other countries implementing social protection programs in remote and challenging contexts.

DFAT commissioned an Independent Strategic Review (ISR) of the above 'knowledge to policy' (or knowledge sector) investments to provide a high-level assessment of the programs' performance and to inform any future Australian investment in the knowledge sector. The ISR report presents important and useful findings on the achievements of over a decade of Australian support to the knowledge sector, while also identifying opportunities and challenges for any future investment.

France, Australia and New Zealand reiterate their solidarity with the Kingdom of Tonga, which have been hit hard following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on 15 January 2022.

This publication is the independent evaluation and DFAT management response to the Australian-funded Vanuatu Skills Partnership Phase Four (VSP 2017- 2026) finalised in March 2021.

In response to a request from the Solomon Islands Government, Australia has today deployed an eight person Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) to support Solomon Islands’ response to the growing COVID-19 outbreak. 

HMAS Adelaide arrived in Tonga today with additional humanitarian and medical supplies, engineering equipment and helicopters to support logistics and distribution as Australia continues its support in partnership with the Tongan Government following the volcano and tsunami.

Lao PDR Competitiveness and Trade (LCT) Project is a multi-donor program administered by the World Bank and implemented by the National Implementation Unit (NIU) of Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) in Lao PDR. LCT was designed for the period January 2019- December 2022 with funding from Australia (AUD 4.5 million), USAID (USD 3 million from September 2019), Irish Aid (EUR 360,000) and a World Bank IDA loan (USD 10 million).

The three core donors to the Wan Smolbag Theatre Community Partnership (WSB) – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand), and Oxfam - commissioned an evaluation of WSB in late 2020 in order to inform the next phase of funding.  

Through the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Australia funded the Australia Balochistan Agribusiness Program phase 2 (AusABBA II). By promoting sustainable agricultural practices and providing technical support to policy development in agriculture and livestock, AusABBA II sought to reduce poverty and economic inequality in six of Balochistan’s districts bordering Afghanistan and Iran.